Ross Raihala (Alpha Male) 🌈

@rossraihala.bsky.social

3078 Followers 727 Following

Pop music critic at the St. Paul Pioneer Press. All shade very necessary. Former dancer at the Grind. World weary, cynical arbiter of taste. Proud Union member. Gen X.

Product shot of Tom Ford's new fragrance Tobacco Chocolat
A self portrait I drew in 1977
The home page for Washed Out on Apple Music
A photo of Jon Bon Jovi with his arms raised in the air, flipping the bird on both hands. But it's got Noah Kahan's face in place of JBJ's.
Reply tweet to my Noah Kahan review: Hi, mental health therapist here, also a huge Noah Kahan fan and attended his St Louis show. Calling his songs/lyrics “empty” borders on delusional and we may need to schedule an assessment for you! His songwriting cuts deep emotionally as people feel seen and healed by it.
A photo of musician Zeke Sky, who sort of looks like Ed Sheeran if he was swole
A photo Sean Dickson, lead singer of the Soup Dragons. He's wearing headphones, flexing his muscles and looking every bit like a hot bear daddy
Hamburger, tater tots and pickles.
The Listening House in St. Paul.
A photo of the wienermobile stuck in a tunnel.
Photo of a plate with turkey and swiss on a Costco pretzel bagel, homemade pickles and Aldi's version of Ruffles.
Sign that reads: June is Gay Pride Month. Big sale on Zima! Total coincidence.
TouchTunes screenshot of the song White Man by Nu Breed and Jesse Howard
My TouchTunes lineup: Illusions, Roosevelt; Silence Is Loud, Nia Archives; Sometimes, Miami Horror; the Game of Love, Michelle Branch; On Wires, Carly Rae Jepsen; It All Feels Right, Washed Out
Nia Archives' Emotional Junglist album on Apple Music.
Headline that reads: "David Brooks on how to thrive in the AI Age"
The Special (sausage, mushrooms, green peppers and onions) deep dish pizza.
Screen shot of Carly Rae Jepsen's "After All" on Apple Music.
Screen shot of Michelle Branch's "The Game of Love" on Apple Music.
Phone alert from TouchTunes that says "Skip the produce aisle. The only thing you'll catch here is a good vibe."
Sandwich with granny smith apples, herb turkey, Swiss cheese and honey mustard on parmesan black pepper bread. Inspired by a sandwich from Figlio.
Screen shot of a Letter Boxed puzzle with the answer "Grink"
Facebook memory showing my hand holding a cocktail (sidecar) with the caption "Having sidecars with our neighbors Vern and Rhonda."
The cover of the Jayhawks' album Sound of Lies.
A photo of me on the back porch of my parents home taken at some point in the late '90s. I'm videotaping my dad and his rifle. (I have no idea what was going on here.)
A plate with two small pizzas made of ancient grain bread, pizza sauce, pizza blend cheese, pickled red onions, banana peppers and fresh cherry tomatoes from the back porch.
Screen grab from the Duluth Family Sauna's website that reads: "Refresh & Relax Established in the 1920s, Duluth Family Sauna is a steam bath near the shores of Lake Superior. Duluth Family Sauna is a wonderful place to meet with old friends, make new ones, or have quiet time in the effort to refresh & re-energize yourself."
Me and Patric and Taylor Swift pose for a photo before her concert at USBS before her concert on her Reputation tour
A shot of the lavender and pink sky
Instagram post about the chicken tikka masala sandwiches you can buy at Costco
A list of the perks you get when paying for a $3,500 Lynyrd Skynyrd "Ultimate Experience" ticket, including a photo opp, joining the band on stage for the final encore bows, a DVD/CD, a Lynyrd Skynyrd flag, socks and tour print
A view of the Mystic Lake Amphitheater stage from the lawn, with a teenage boy wrapped up in a blanket directly in front of me.
View of the Mystic Lake Amphitheater from the lawn
The cover of Haircut 100's new album, which shows two of the four band members are now bald
Our neighbor dog Gus enjoying the comically large stick we left for him
The Pet Shop Boys new book Volume
Threads post from Stephen King: Ummm...why doesn't someone make a Broadway jukebox musical about Jim Steinman and Meatloaf? I can see the smokin' hot visuals for "Bat Out of Hell" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
My Skicle showing who I most interact with here
Burger and tots
The gravesite of gay rights Thom Higgins. We left a pie there in his honor. There was already a candle there for his memory.
Apple Music page for the Australian band Miami Horror
Michaela Bradshaw
Former Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara
Former Minneapolis police chief Brian O'Hara displays his guns.
Photo of me, our friend Rachael Patric, Andy and Pat.
A crude drawing of Jessie Ware from someone asking if they knew who the person in the drawing was
Jane Wiedlin's excellent 1985 debut solo album
An old print ad for Marlboro showing a cowboy riding a horse
Myd,"Mydnight"
Chicken parm at Little Oven
Me and Amy Nelson posing for a selfie outside of Glamorama
CeCe Peniston at Glamorama during a rare moment when she wasn't staring at me.
Apple music page for the Rolling Stones' "Shame, Shame, Shame"
Chana masala
MN House votes 75-59 to legalize same-sex marriage.
The phrase "Knowledge Wisdom Truth" on a pink and white shirt
Subject line in an email from the Prince estate: Drinkware Back In Stock! ☕🍹Elevate Your Collection From Coffee to Cocktails